Atemmufoɔ 14
1 Dabi a na Samson wɔ Timna no, ɔhunuu Filistini ababaawa bi.
One day Samson went down to Timnah, where he saw a young Philistine woman.
2 Ɔsane kɔɔ efie no, ɔka kyerɛɛ nʼagya ne ne maame sɛ, “Mahunu Filistini ababaawa bi wɔ Timna a mepɛ sɛ meware no.”
So he returned and told his father and mother, “I have seen a daughter of the Philistines in Timnah. Now get her for me as a wife.”
3 Nʼagya ne ne maame ampene so kaa no anibereɛ so sɛ, “Enti, yɛn abusua yi mu anaa Israelfoɔ yi mu, ɔbaa baako mpo nni mu a wotumi ware no? Adɛn na ɛsɛ sɛ wokɔ Filistifoɔ abosonsomfoɔ mu kɔpɛ ɔyere?” Nanso, Samson ka kyerɛɛ nʼagya sɛ, “Kɔyɛ ne ho adeɛ ma me. Ɔno ara na mepɛ.”
But his father and mother replied, “Can’t you find a young woman among your relatives or among any of our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson told his father, “Get her for me, for she is pleasing to my eyes.”
4 Nʼagya ne ne maame anhunu sɛ Awurade na ɔreyɛ nʼadwuma, repɛ akwannya bi a ɔbɛfa so atia Filistifoɔ a saa ɛberɛ no na wɔdi Israelfoɔ so.
(Now his father and mother did not know this was from the LORD, who was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines; for at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.)
5 Samson ne nʼawofoɔ rekɔ Timna no, gyata ba bi to hyɛɛ Samson so wɔ beaeɛ bi a ɛbɛn Timna bobe nturo.
Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Suddenly a young lion came roaring at him,
6 Amonom hɔ ara, Awurade Honhom baa ne so wɔ ahoɔden mu, na ɔde ne nsa hunu waee gyata no apantan. Ɔwaee te sɛ deɛ ɔrewae abirekyie ba bi apantan. Nanso, wanka deɛ ɔyɛeɛ yi ankyerɛ nʼawofoɔ.
and the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him, and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as one would tear a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.
7 Samson duruu Timna no, ɔne ɔbaa no kasaeɛ na nʼani gyee ne ho.
Then Samson continued on his way down and spoke to the woman, because she was pleasing to his eyes.
8 Akyire no a ɔresane akɔ Timna akɔhyia ayeforɔ no, ɔmane kɔhwɛɛ gyata no funu no. Ɔhunuu sɛ nwowa kuo akɔyɛ ɛwoɔ wɔ mu.
When Samson returned later to take her, he left the road to see the lion’s carcass, and in it was a swarm of bees, along with their honey.
9 Ɔkɔtii ɛwoɔ no bi dii wɔ ɛkwan so. Ɔmaa nʼawofoɔ no bi ma wɔdiiɛ. Nanso, wanka ankyerɛ wɔn sɛ ɔnyaa ɛwoɔ no wɔ gyata funu no mu.
So he scooped some honey into his hands and ate it as he went along. And when he returned to his father and mother, he gave some to them and they ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion’s carcass.
10 Afei, ɛberɛ a nʼagya reyɛ ahoboa ama awaregyeɛ no, Samson too ɛpono wɔ Timna, sɛdeɛ amanneɛ kyerɛ saa ɛberɛ no.
Then his father went to visit the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, as was customary for the bridegroom.
11 Wɔtoo nsa frɛɛ mmeranteɛ aduasa a wɔfiri kuro no mu sɛ wɔmmɛka ne ho.
And when the Philistines saw him, they selected thirty men to accompany him.
12 Samson ka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Momma menka aborɔme bi nkyerɛ mo. Sɛ nnanson apontoɔ yi mu, motumi yi ano a, mɛma mo serekyetam ntadeɛ aduasa ne ntadeɛ ahodoɔ bi nso aduasa.
“Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can solve it for me within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.
13 Sɛ moantumi anyi ano nso a, mo nso mobɛma me serekyetam ntadeɛ aduasa ne ntadeɛ ahodoɔ bi nso aduasa.” Wɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Ka aborɔme no ma yɛntie.”
But if you cannot solve it, you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.” “Tell us your riddle,” they replied. “Let us hear it.”
14 Ɔkaa no sɛ, “Deɛ ɔdie mu na wɔnya biribi a wɔdie; ɔhoɔdenfoɔ mu na ɔdɛ firi ba.” Nnansa akyi no, na wɔntumi nyii ano.
So he said to them: “Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.” For three days they were unable to explain the riddle.
15 Ne nna ɛnan soɔ no, wɔkɔka kyerɛɛ Samson yere sɛ, “Gye aborɔme no mmuaeɛ firi wo kunu hɔ ma yɛn, anyɛ saa a, yɛbɛhye wo ne wʼagya fie ama wɔawu. Motoo nsa frɛɛ yɛn wɔ ha sɛ morebɛsisi yɛn anaa?”
So on the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband to explain the riddle to us, or we will burn you and your father’s household to death. Did you invite us here to rob us?”
16 Enti, Samson yere de su baa ne nkyɛn bɛkaa sɛ, “Wonnɔ me. Wotan me! Woaka aborɔme bi akyerɛ me nkurɔfoɔ, nanso, wonkyerɛɛ me aseɛ.” Samson buaa ne yere no sɛ, “Saa ara na mʼagya ne me maame nso menkyerɛɛ wɔn aseɛ. Na adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ meka kyerɛ wo?”
Then Samson’s wife came to him, weeping, and said, “You hate me! You do not really love me! You have posed to my people a riddle, but have not explained it to me.” “Look,” he said, “I have not even explained it to my father or mother, so why should I explain it to you?”
17 Enti, ɔsu guu ne so biribiara ɔne no wɔ hɔ. Ɔkɔɔ so saa ara nna a aka na apontoɔ no aba nʼawieeɛ nyinaa. Nnanson so no, ɛsiane ha a ɔhaa no enti, ɔkyerɛɛ no aseɛ. Ɔno nso kaa aborɔme asekyerɛ no kyerɛɛ mmeranteɛ no.
She wept the whole seven days of the feast, and finally on the seventh day, because she had pressed him so much, he told her the answer. And in turn she explained the riddle to her people.
18 Na nnanson so, ansa na owia rebɛtɔ no, kuro no mu mmarima baa Samson nkyɛn bɛkyerɛɛ no aseɛ sɛ, “Ɛdeɛn na ɛyɛ dɛ sene woɔ? Ɛdeɛn na ɛwɔ ahoɔden sene gyata?” Samson buaa wɔn sɛ, “Sɛ mo ne ɔfatwafoɔ no antu agyina, anka morennya aborɔme no asekyerɛ.”
Before sunset on the seventh day, the men of the city said to Samson: “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” So he said to them: “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle!”
19 Afei, Awurade Honhom de ahoɔden kɛseɛ bi baa ne so. Ɔkɔɔ Askelon kuro mu. Ɔkunkumm mmarima aduasa faa wɔn agyapadeɛ nyinaa. Ɔde wɔn ntadeɛ maa mmarima a wɔyii aborɔme no ano no. Na Samson bo annwo deɛ ɛbaeɛ no ho yie enti ɔkɔɔ ne fie na ɔne nʼawofoɔ kɔtenaeɛ.
Then the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, killed thirty of their men, took their apparel, and gave their clothes to those who had solved the riddle. And burning with anger, Samson returned to his father’s house,
20 Enti, wɔde ne yere no maa ɔbarima a na ɔdi Samson nan ase wɔ wɔn ayeforɔhyia mu no awadeɛ.
and his wife was given to one of the men who had accompanied him.
